Sheriff: Alleged Teen Prostitution Ring Has More Victims

Detectives think multiple girls may have been victimized by a Palm Harbor man accused of operating a prostitution ring involving teenage runaways. Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri asked any other possible victims to come forward during a news conference Friday.

James Perdue, 61, is charged with one count of sexual performance by a child, one count of procuring a person under 18 for prostitution, one count of possession of methamphetamine, and one count of possession of drug paraphernalia. A judge set his bond at $32,150.

Deputies arrested Perdue Wednesday after serving a search warrant at his home at 655 9th St. The investigation began in April when neighbors called to complain.

"There were young girls coming and going with residents and other activity which they suspected to be drug activity," said Gualtieri.

The sheriff also said that people had called Crimestoppers about suspicious activity at the residence and narcotics detectives already had a file with complaints about possible methamphetamine activity at the home.

Detectives started watching the home after receiving the complaints. Detectives say that one day this month, they saw a 16 year-old girl with Perdue in a vehicle. The detectives followed Perdue and the girl and watched the pair go into the room of a hotel on Dale Mabry near I-275 in Tampa. They called Tampa Police, who went to the hotel and talked to Perdue, who at first claimed the girl was his daughter, according to Gualtieri. Police removed the girl from the hotel. Gualtieri said she is thought to be a chronic runaway. The teen was returned to her family.

Detectives continued their surveillance of Perdue and found that the girls who were coming and going from his residence were also advertising on an internet site called Backpage, according to Gualtieri.

"These same girls were advertising their services for sex, two-for-one, two for $150," said Gualtieri.

The sheriff says when Perdue was arrested, he admitted that he was involved with the girls and he showed them how to place adds on Backpage and admitted to transporting them, but denied he was their pimp. Perdue allegedly said the girls received drugs for payment of the prostitution and he would share the drugs with them.

"There are most likely other girls, young girls in the North Pinellas area that have had contact with Perdue, that have probably been recruited by him to engage in prostitution. We're asking for those girls and or their parents to come forward," said Gualtieri.

So far, two 16 year-old girls have been identified and interviewed by detectives. The sheriff says the girls told them they engaged in prostitution activities at least ten times. 

If you have information that can help investigators call the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office at (727) 582-6200 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-873-TIPS (8477) 

Related story-